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The Swiss aren't an EU Member, they have never joined the EU and there immigration policy is for the Swiss to decide and not the EU.
Of course, but if they decide to revoke the free movement of persons stipulated in the Bilateral Agreement I (1999), the EU is free to revoke all the other benefits we are granting the Swiss. Passport controls, no free movement of capital, ... That would jeopardize their whole economy. Think about all the banks in Zurich or all the tax evading companies in Zug. Funnily enough, those regions voted No this time. I wonder why?
I don't think most of the Swiss thought about that at all. And it will soon turn out, if it really was a wise idea to vote the way they did.
Since many EU countries are headed in the Swiss direction and will try to pass similar legislation once the anti-immigration parties become large enough, it will be an uphill battle for the EU to impose sanctions. Already, several countries are ignoring EU court decisions regarding the constitutionality of their immigration policies and procedures. More will follow in time as welfare states fall apart and nationalistic zenophobes blame "outsiders".
is it me, or is this complete economic suicide ? they recently voted 50.7% in favour of capping EU immigration.
they have a Bilateral Agreement with the EU which consists of
Free movement of people
Air traffic
Road traffic
Agriculture
Technical trade barriers
Public procurement
Science
take free movement of people out of the equation, you take the rest out too.
also more than 50% of the workers in switzerland are foreign, and do not hold a swiss passport. if you take 50% of the work force out of switzerland, they would have severe skills shortage because all of the foreigners brought a skill into switzerland that the swiss residents did not have. most of them were well educated and brought alot more to the table for switzerland than switzerland did for them.
there are other implications too which is, EU bosses won't be too happy with switzerland and may put its trade benefits with the EU in jeopardy. thats not too bad, until you realise that more that over 50% of their exports are to EU countries.
the whole point was to get more jobs for swiss people and increase wages. yes, but with such severe skills shortage, it won't be economically sustainable for a business to pay its accountant $1 million a year simply because there is such short supply and they are desperate. it gets even worse for companies when lack of immigration = less people = less customers = less profit. so companies either go bankrupt or simply relocate to a country with cheaper work force and more customers. that means loss of jobs (which kinda contradicts the point of this immigration cap and giving jobs to swiss people, if they leave with the skilled force) drop in GDP, drop in investments, loss of purchasing power, loss of tax revenue.
i think the swiss will look back at this decision in a few years time and wonder if nationalism was worth it. i personally think they've bottled it.
They are losing their native culture. Who cares how wealthy you are when you can't even recognize your neighbor, co-worker or those on the street? This is a concept that Americans can't comprehend.
They are losing their native culture. Who cares how wealthy you are when you can't even recognize your neighbor, co-worker or those on the street? This is a concept that Americans can't comprehend.
america is what it is today thanks to its wealth/wealth-of-its-people. or the wealth it USED to have.
its not all about how wealthy they'll be (not be). wealth is one out of many things that they'll lose. economic collapse will mean they'll get to watch their neighbors, co-workers and those on the street lose their jobs as their companies go bankrupt, lose their houses, lose everything. but hey, atleast they recognised them. right ?
They are losing their native culture. Who cares how wealthy you are when you can't even recognize your neighbor, co-worker or those on the street? This is a concept that Americans can't comprehend.
Assuming they have one,Swiss culture is a mixture of several culture( German,Italian,Fench),i don't think anything is lost,i think the Swiss care more about money than culture.
Most Swiss only care about financial gain and the country is considered to be a safe heaven to tax-evaders and financial crooks so neighbours,co-workers are last thing they care about.
Well this definitely sucks. The Swiss have to live through the tyranny of the non-Swiss who are imposing their views at the expense of what the Swiss truly want.
The naysayers may paint a doom and gloom picture if the Swiss are successful in imposing their desire for their own country, but few are the moments in history where a doom and gloom prediction has actually become true. Actually, doom and gloom predictions tend to be blown way out of proportion.
The Swiss managed to take what was once a worthless country and turned it into a shining example for the world. With a history like that there is no reason to doubt they would be able to figure their way out of their current situation and whatever imposition the EU puts on their path and still come out as winners.
Wishing or predicting the downfall of Switzerland based on their decision to do away with one of the EU requirements is akin to predicting the downfall of Germany if they ever decide to do the same, considering that Germany was utterly destroyed during WWII and impressively rebuilt and in record time became a global economic power again despite all the roadblocks the rest of Europe imposed on them as blame for the entire WW ordeal!
is it me, or is this complete economic suicide ? they recently voted 50.7% in favour of capping EU immigration.
they have a Bilateral Agreement with the EU which consists of
Free movement of people
Air traffic
Road traffic
Agriculture
Technical trade barriers
Public procurement
Science
take free movement of people out of the equation, you take the rest out too.
also more than 50% of the workers in switzerland are foreign, and do not hold a swiss passport. if you take 50% of the work force out of switzerland,
From what I understand, the Swiss are not talking about getting rid of all immigrants completely - they are talking about limitations, and it's a different thing.
Quote:
they would have severe skills shortage because all of the foreigners brought a skill into switzerland that the swiss residents did not have. most of them were well educated and brought alot more to the table for switzerland than switzerland did for them.
What "skills" are you talking about, that "swiss residents didn't have?" And how many foreigners are there with those specific skills?
And how many without those skills, yet trying to reside in Switzerland?
Quote:
there are other implications too which is, EU bosses won't be too happy with switzerland and may put its trade benefits with the EU in jeopardy. thats not too bad, until you realise that more that over 50% of their exports are to EU countries.
the whole point was to get more jobs for swiss people and increase wages. yes, but with such severe skills shortage,
Again - what "severe skill shortage?"
You are talking about one of the wealthiest European countries; how did they manage to make it before, with all their "severe skill shortage," without any immigrants?
america is what it is today thanks to its wealth/wealth-of-its-people. or the wealth it USED to have.
And Switzerland /other European countries are not America. Each and every country has its own culture; they are not just money-making machines, no matter who-what-how.
Quote:
its not all about how wealthy they'll be (not be). wealth is one out of many things that they'll lose. economic collapse will mean they'll get to watch their neighbors, co-workers and those on the street lose their jobs as their companies go bankrupt, lose their houses, lose everything. but hey, atleast they recognised them. right ?
Why are you so worried how they manage their affairs?
I lived in Zurich before. Most people I got to know there seemed to be foreigners, but most are still Europeans especially Germans.
To my surprise there were not many Chinese (compared to the US and Britain) except in ETH, but I saw a lot of southeast Asians like Thais and Filipinos. Many Indians too, and almost all were IT engineers.
My English proficiency improved a lot in Zurich but only learned very little German. I knew a girl from Hong Kong. She majored in German language and literature in college, but spoke English in Zurich.
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Switzerland referendum on capping EU immigration.
